Tuesday September 4 2007

Bluff at Buckskin Crossing, Big Sandy River

Today was another of those times to just be endured and gotten through. Nothing bad, not much very enjoyable. We left for Joe's annual VA checkup at the VA clinic in Rock Springs about 7:30. Took the dirt road to Farson - well I do like this part of the day. They have put the Mag Cl on that road as far as the turnoff to the Lander Cutoff/Big Sandy Openings. So all along Big Sandy Flat and across the river at Buckskin Crossing it is like a new super highway - relatively - compared to what it used to be - washboardy dirt.

Then we saw the fence and cattleguard this side of the river we'd been hearing about. Learned later that they are building a very large gravel pit there and will use the gravel to widen the road to Rock Springs - Highway 191. They are ready to start the project. I can't envision the route the gravel trucks will take to travel out of there. Either direction its a l-o-n-g way. There were a LOT of antelope out there this time. And saw a distant huge herd of sheep moving along really raising the dust. We only passed about other 3 trucks in 50 miles which would not have been the case out on the highway. The country still looked dry although we've been getting more rain lately. There was no water in any of the reservoirs. Even Big Sandy Reservoir looked like a puddle. Walked the dogs down near Farson so they would be o.k. to stay in the truck for a while. Stopped at Joe's favorite mini mart at Eden for coffee. Joe was supposed to be to the Clinic at 10:30, but he went in a little after 10. I waited in the car for him while he went in to his doctor appointment, and during the hour and a half that he was in there I gave myself a manicure that I hadn't seemed to be getting done at home, and took the dogs for another walk. Each time we go there the vacant lots get smaller and smaller and soon there won't be any open space to walk dogs. Development.

Joe got out at 11:30. We went over to the Outlaw Inn for lunch and had enough leftovers for Raven and Sparky. Saw Mary Arambel there and talked to her for a few minutes. She has been in Buffalo (WY) most of the summer and she and her brother and sister are going to France next week. She has only been to the ranch once this summer she said. Their place is south of us about 15 miles, and we passed it this morning. She has always had a house in Rock Springs.

Next we went to Penney's to shop for Joe's unmentionables. And then I was in Walmart for two and a half or three hours by the time I got out. Got it all in one basket, but after it was checked out, I had two baskets. The clerk showed me how to tie the two baskets together with the child safety straps and pull them - the back one just followed the front one like a train. I trudged across the parking lot to the SUV that we always park at the furthest end from the door like an oxen on a wagon train. Had brought the coolers and the clerk got me some dry ice for the trip home, so loaded all the cold things into the coolers. Joe had walked the dogs another couple of times. Next we went to Home Depot to get PVC drain pipe so Joe could finish his septic tank project. I took a quick look at their dishwashers and stoves, but was too tired to even think about buying anything that took serious decisions. It was about 5 p.m. by then. Got a cold drink at McDonald's. Kind of got a junk food fix today.

The traffic was terrible going home and eventually I got stuck behind a moving van towing a trailer going about 50 mph and couldn't pass. I wished I had taken the dirt road back home too, but Joe thinks we make better time on the highway. We do, but I'd rather have the less stressful way. I said I was too tired to make dinner so we tried to stop at the little cafe in Eden, Country Burgers, but it was closed on Tuesdays. So back to the mini mart and got a couple of sub sandwiches. They only had ham and no lettuce, but they were still pretty good even though we had wanted pastrami. All their other lunch meat was frozen. Joe didn't complain and ate his in the car. I saved mine for later since it would have been messy to eat a sub and drive. Got home about 7:30 and all the bags and coolers unloaded. All I put away was the stuff out of the coolers and the fresh veggies and left the rest for morning.

Joe called Pete (had gotten his number from Mary) and asked if he could come and get 3 or 4 loads of big rocks from his rock pile by the river and Pete said yes. Then he called Buckshot and asked if he would come with his backhoe and dig the trench for his new septic drain field, and he will come sometime next week. For one of the few times I can remember Joe said he couldn't dig the trench - and he means with a shovel. I'm glad he's asking for help.